"A hundred years ago, many theorists believed--just as they did at the beginning of our twenty-first century--that the world had reached a state of economic perfection, a never before seen human interdependence that would lead to universal growth and prosperity. Then, as now, the German mark was one of the most trusted currencies in the world. Yet the early years of the Weimar Republic in Germany witnessed the most calamitous meltdown of a developed...

Explains the nature of money, the different ways in which it can be represented, and how it can be saved or invested, discussing mutual funds, the stock market, banks, and inflation. Includes games and activities.

"The best-selling author of Naked Statistics and Naked Economics explores the colorful world of money and banking to answer such questions as how money creation is used to counter financial crises, why the shared European currency has caused so much trouble and how Bitcoin will impact the future,"--NoveList.

"The financial sector has succeeded in depicting itself as part of the productive economy, yet for centuries banking was recognized as being parasitic. The essence of parasitism is not only to drain the host's nourishment, but also to dull the host's brain so that it does not recognize that the parasite is there. This is the illusion that much of Europe and the United States suffer under today. The aim of this book is to pierce this illusion and replace...

Despite being immensely popular--and immensely lucrative education is grossly overrated. In this explosive book, Bryan Caplan argues that the primary function of education is not to enhance students' skill but to certify their intelligence, work ethic, and conformity - in other words, to signal the qualities of a good employee. Learn why students hunt for easy As and casually forget most of what they learn after the final exam, why decades of growing...

A critical examination of economics, past and future, and how it needs to change, by one of the most eminent political economists of our time. The dominant view in economics is that money and government should play only minor roles in economic life. Economic outcomes, it is claimed, are best left to the "invisible hand" of the market. Yet these claims remain staunchly unsettled. The view taken in this important new book is that the omnipresence of...